ODYSSEY™ – purple bedding floribunda rose - Cowlishaw
Step into the calm after summer rain with Odyssey, a compact floribunda bred in the UK to suit modern, water-wise front gardens and small family plots. Its upright, bushy habit and compact spread make it easy to place in narrow beds or terraced-house frontages, while the semi-double lilac blooms with a silvery sheen add a subtly romantic, girly note without overwhelming limited space. Flowers come in generous flushes from early summer well into autumn, giving a prolonged season of interest and medium, noticeable fragrance with minimal fuss. On its own roots, Odyssey establishes steadily for a long garden life, regenerating well after pruning and remaining stable in shape and colour. It is particularly reassuring in wetter, cooler districts where strong disease resistance keeps foliage fresh despite frequent showers and breezy, coastal conditions. With little more than good drainage, a mulch and basic dead-heading, you can look forward to a simple rhythm of Year 1 rooting, Year 2 shaping and Year 3 full ornamental performance from this reliable, easy-care, sustainable choice for the low-input, rain-aware urban gardener.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Small front garden flower bed |
Odyssey stays naturally upright and compact, so it suits narrow London-style front beds without overwhelming paths or windows. Regular flushes of lilac flowers and glossy mid-green foliage give a neat, composed look with limited pruning for the busy homeowner. |
| Pollinator-friendly, ornamental strip |
The semi-double flowers offer accessible stamens, giving moderate interest to bees while still looking full enough for a decorative front border. Repeating clusters create a gentle hum of life across the season, yet demands remain modest for the ecology-conscious beginner. |
| Low-maintenance mixed planting |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust means foliage stays attractive among perennials and grasses with minimal spraying. This supports a relaxed, naturalistic style where you mainly mulch, water in dry spells and enjoy the view as a time-poor gardener. |
| Urban, rainwater-conscious border |
The bushy, moderately dense foliage and compact height work well along permeable drives or gravel strips, softening hard landscaping while still leaving space for rain to soak away in wetter, breezy conditions typical of exposed, rainy locations for the sustainability-focused owner. |
| Container on balcony or patio (40–50 litre) |
In a 40–50 litre peat-free container, Odyssey forms a tidy, upright shrub that flowers repeatedly with regular watering and feeding. Own-root stock copes better with minor neglect or missed prunings, gradually rebuilding a balanced structure for the novice balcony-gardener. |
| Compact flowering hedge or path edging |
Planted at closer spacing, Odyssey knits into a low, informal hedge that guides visitors through the garden. Upright, bushy growth and moderate height frame paths without thorny congestion, particularly helpful for families and frequent foot traffic for the practical homeowner. |
| Feature rose within sustainable “girly” scheme |
The soft pastel lilac blooms with a silvery tinge pair gracefully with lavender, nepeta or coral bells, creating a feminine palette without becoming fussy. Long-season flowering provides structure and colour anchor for a restrained but romantic plan for the style-aware urbanite. |
| Long-term, easy-care family garden rose |
As an own-root floribunda, Odyssey forms a durable framework that responds well to periodic rejuvenation pruning, with no graft union to fail. Over years it maintains stable colour and habit, suiting gardeners who prefer steady results with light annual care for the long-view planner. |
Styling ideas
- Front-door welcome – Line a short front path with Odyssey and lavender for a lilac-and-soft-green entrance that flowers for months – ideal for the house-proud city dweller.
- Rainwise ribbon – Plant a single curving ribbon of Odyssey in gravel with permeable paving to soften parked cars while keeping surfaces free-draining – perfect for sustainability-minded homeowners.
- Balcony jewel-box – In a 50 litre container, underplant Odyssey with trailing heuchera and scented thyme for a layered, compact display – suited to space-limited flat dwellers.
- Soft family hedge – Create a low, informal hedge edging a play lawn, using Odyssey’s moderate height and sparse thorns for gentle boundaries – helpful for families with young children.
- Twilight romance – Combine Odyssey with pale nepeta and a dusky Clematis viticella on an obelisk for shimmering lilac tones that glow in evening light – appealing to after-work garden relaxers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bed rose; registered as FRAnski, marketed as Odyssey™ Bedding rose FRAnski, ARS exhibition name Odyssey; exhibition floribunda for garden and show use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Frank R. Cowlishaw in the United Kingdom from ‘Summer Wine’ × unknown seedling; introduced and registered in 2001 by Rearsby Roses for general garden planting. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, upright, bushy habit to around 75–105 cm high and 50–70 cm wide; moderately dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage with sparse prickles for easier handling. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, flat, cluster-flowering blooms of medium size with approximately 13–25 petals; remontant, giving generous repeat flushes and a plentiful second flowering across the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft pastel lilac petals with silvery tinge; ARS mau, RHS 76C outer and 75B inner; colour fades through pearlescent light lilac to smoky grey-lilac as blooms mature and age on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, pleasantly noticeable scent suited to close seating areas and paths; fragrance character not fully described but distinct enough to appreciate in calm weather. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form only occasionally due to semi-double flowers; when present they are small, spherical red hips about 10–14 mm in diameter, adding discreet late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, USDA 6b); good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust under typical UK garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 35–75 cm depending on use. Suitable for beds, mixed borders, larger containers and south-facing walls; low-maintenance, own-root plant for long-term planting. |
ODYSSEY™ – purple bedding floribunda rose - Cowlishaw offers compact, long-season colour, reliable disease resistance and the durable, regenerating advantages of an own-root plant; a thoughtful choice if you favour lasting ease over short-lived impact.
